choosing ram

[omghaxcode]

I'm looking to build a high end gaming computer but I have trouble understanding the differences between RAM. Can anyone briefly describe what differentiates different sticks other than size and brand obviously. I'm talking about speed, timing, latency, and voltage.

Thanks

 

[Blain]

Can anyone briefly describe what differentiates different sticks other than size and brand obviously. I'm talking about speed, timing, latency, and voltage.

Yes

If I were shopping for high quality memory, I would use the following parameters as a guide...

* DDR3 rated at 1.5v or lower
* DDR3 rated at the lowest CAS I could afford
* DDR3 rated at the highest clock speed I could afford
* Limit the scope of my purchease to G.Skill, Mushkin, Corsair XMS or Crucial (non-Ballistix)

While not wavering on the voltage point, I would balance the other issues with my budget.

Remember kids my goal is not pure "benchmarking" performance, but simply finding the highest quality memory I can afford. ^_^

The only reason I pay a premium for low latency, high speed, low voltage memory is...
Quality and quality alone.

1.5v is the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard.
Stay with 1.5v or less if you can afford it..

 

[omghaxcode]

what about speed?

also, you don't think Samsung makes quality RAM? I've seen several recommendations for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

 

[Ken g6]

What about speed? The numbers may be better for faster RAM on Ivy Bridge, though not much, and/or on LGA2011.

That RAM you mentioned is good; its CAS timings match 1333MHz at CL9. Supposedly it overclocks well too.

One other thing about RAMs is that some of them have horns. No, really!

• Long "horns" (Don't get this!)
• Short "horns"
• No "horns"

The "horns", which are really just heat sink fins, do no good and often bump into things, like CPU heat sinks. So try to get hornless RAMs.

 

[omghaxcode]

so DDR3 1600 is good enough then?

 

[Remobz]

so DDR3 1600 is good enough then?

You should also ask (asking myself as well) how large the individual ram modules should be?

For example........... 6 GB @ 2 X 2 x 2 or 6GB @ 3 x 3

 

[mfenn]

so DDR3 1600 is good enough then?

Yes. About the only case where the RAM speed matters these days is if you're using the IGP of an AMD APU.

 

[omghaxcode]

the RAM I posted only has a latency of 11. I've seen some with latency as low as 9 or so. should I go for one of those?

 

[mfenn]

the RAM I posted only has a latency of 11. I've seen some with latency as low as 9 or so. should I go for one of those?

It doesn't matter really. Anyway, for this particular Samsung RAM CAS 11 is where it is (very conservatively) rated at 1.35V. It will easily do 9 or less at 1.5V.